Friday, March 7, 2008

Tk 7cr more gone with 2 other Natore NGOs

The Social Welfare Directorate yesterday cancelled registration of two fraud NGOs in Natore while officials of two more NGOs disappeared with around Tk 7 crore in Natore and Rajshahi.

Registrations of Freedom Unnayan Sangstha and Probhati Grameen Unnayan Sangstha that disappeared on February 28 and March 4 with huge amount of money were cancelled.

Bank authorities said they have been asked by the district administration to freeze accounts, if any, of the two NGOs.

Victims of these NGOs held a protest meeting in Nasratpur from where they announced to besiege Natore Deputy Commissioner's Office on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Jibon Dhara, an unregistered NGO in Dhamongram village in Naldanga, and Doel Bahumukhi Atma-Karmasangsthan Sangstha in Durgapur, Rajshahi have disappeared.

Jibon Dhara staffs Shahidul Islam and Moazzem Hossain told reporters the NGO had collected about Tk 4 crore from 6,000 members through 104 branches in Natore, Rajshahi and other districts.

"The NGO men were distributing money among its members of Dhamongram and announced refunding its members from other villages today [Thursday]. But we found its office shut and no-one was available," said Azad of Dharampur in Durgapur, Rajshahi.

Doel men also disappeared in a similar fashion with Tk 3 crore collected from 104 branches. Officials of many other NGOs also went into hiding as angry members began to hold officials.

Victims of Sonar Bangla held its staff Rois in Babur Pukur in Natore and took him to Bhabni in Naldanga. They also picked up Nurul Islam, brother of NGO staff Walimuddin, and another staff Zamal in Bhabni and beat them up.

Leaflets were circulated in Naldanga villages on behalf of the victims of Freedom and Probhati drawing attention of the chief adviser and the army chief.

Police and district administration officials visited the NGOs several times, held meetings with the victims and asked them not to worry.

Sources said Freedom director Ishaq Mia before disappearing gave his 15 reliable staffs including the area manager and branch heads Tk 10 crore to share among them.

"It's not possible to do business here any longer despite bribing the police and administration Tk 50 crore," he was quoted as telling his staffs.